UPDATE: Murderers caught and prosecuted!11-17-2009 United Kingdom:
POLICE have named a man found murdered in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Graham Wootton, 31, from Haydock, died from a single stab wound at a house on St Augustine Way, Netherton.
Four people, including a woman aged 22, from Netherton, another woman, 38, from Bootle, and two men, aged 34 and 48, from Litherland and Crosby, remain in custody after being arrested in connection with the murder.
Neighbours heard arguing on the street hours before the death. ..Source.. by Liverpool Daily Post
Four released on bail after stab horror murder in Netherton
11-19-2009 United Kingdom:
FOUR people arrested and quizzed at the weekend on suspicion of murder have been released on police bail.
They were arrested in connection with the death of Graham Wootton, 31.
He died from single stab wound at a house in St Augustine Way, Netherton, in the early hours of Saturday.
The four questioned by police included two women – a 22-year-old from Netherton and a 38-year-old from Bootle and two men, aged 34 and 48, from the Litherland and Crosby areas.
At 6.30pm on Sunday, police cordons on the quiet road and on a walkway next to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal were lifted.
A forensics team left the scene at 6.50pm and a single police officer was left guarding the front of the house. The victim is from Haydock.
Neighbours told the Bootle Times of their horror.
One said: “It’s a shock because this is normally a quiet street. There is never any trouble. I can’t believe this has happened.”
Another neighbour said: “I’m really surprised this has happened at that house because it’s so out of character for the people that live there. They keep themselves to themselves.”
Another woman said: “It was about 1am when I heard shouting and squabbling on the street.
“It was as if people had come back from the pub. It stopped suddenly and I thought they had gone home.
“I went back to sleep. Then I woke up because I could hear a woman screaming and I could see blue flashing lights. That was just after 2am.
“The woman was screaming frantically. I could hear other voices – but it was mainly the woman shouting.
“She was shouting again and again. She was put into the ambulance. Another woman was taken into a police van. But she was not handcuffed.”
She added: “I’ve lived on the street for 40 years and there has never been anything like this.
“It’s something that you normally hear about on the TV and not on your own doorstep.”
Carol Cooney, manageress of the nearby Netherton and Sefton British Legion, said: “I can’t believe what’s happened. You never hear anything like that happening around here. It’s come out of the blue.” ..Source.. by Mark Johnson, Bootle Times
Stabbing victim’s brother tells of hell for family
8-5-2010 United Kingdom:
THE anguished brother of a stabbing victim this week described the months of hell his family has gone through.
Father-of-two Graham Wootton, of Penny Lane in Haydock, died from a single stab wound at a house in Netherton, Liverpool last November.
He left two daughters, aged seven and nine, four siblings, and his parents Barry and Esther, who live in Prescot.
Thirty-one-year-old Graham had finished a catering course at St Helens College shortly before his death and had ambitions of becoming a chef.
This week younger brother David Wootton, 28, spoke of the pain relatives have endured.
The security guard told the Star: “It has been horrific. It is still so hard to face and even now with the case going to court it is hitting us.
“Graham was a quiet lad, quite shy really and we enjoyed having a few drinks together, watching the football and rugby. We were very close. He had two daughters and was a great father. He had plenty of friends at the college and had hopes of becoming a chef.
“We don’t really know much about how he died – the police can’t tell us – and now it is going through the courts.”
David has received invaluable support from the organisation Supporter after Murder and Manslaughter Merseyside.
He has revealed plans to host a major charity event in aid of the organisation at the Thistle Hotel in Haydock on Friday, November 19.
David added: “They have given me so much support, I’ve been attending regular meetings in Liverpool and there has always been someone on the other end of the phone when I’ve needed to talk.
“I don’t want to just get families of victims involved – I want people from police, probation service and the CPS too.”
The night will involve a three-course meal, entertainment, raffles and auctions. All proceeds will go to SAMM Merseyside.
Anyone wishing to support the event or are interested is asked to email SAMMfundraiser@hotmail.co.uk
FOUR people charged in connection with Graham Wootton’s death will next face court again in November.
Samuel Dunne, 48, of Church Road, Seaforth and Susan Joanne Lynch, 38, of St Augustines Way, Netherton, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court, via video link equipment, earlier this month.
They are charged with murder, conspiracy to commit actual bodily harm and perverting the course of justice.
David Bennett, 35, of Condron Road, Litherland, and Lindsey Hutchins, 23, of Muttocks Rake, Seaforth, are accused of conspiracy to commit actual bodily harm and perverting the course of justice.
Dunne and Lynch have been remanded in custody by the Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Henry Globe, QC, and he remanded Bennett and Hutchins on bail. They are next to appear in court on Oct 5 to enter their pleas. A trial date has been fixed for January next year. ..Source.. by Andrew Kilmurray
Convicted sex offender stabbed to death during confrontation about his sordid past
1-13-2011 United Kingdom:
A CONVICTED sex offender was stabbed to death after being confronted about his sordid past by his drunken new girlfriend and her pals, a court heard.
Graham Wootton, 31, probably died within 10 minutes of being stabbed in the left thigh. But it is claimed he was left lying in a pool of his own blood for about two hours while his alleged attackers, who had challenged him for being a “paedo”, attempted to cover up his murder.
Liverpool Crown Court heard Wootton’s new girlfriend Lindsay Hutchins, 23, had become aware of his criminal background after being secretly tipped off by his jealous brother Barry Wootton.
On the night of November 13, 2009, the young mum invited him around to her friend Susan Lynch’s Netherton home, where they were drinking with their co-accused Samuel Dunne, 49, and his nephew David Bennett, 36, of Condron Road North, Litherland.
Prosecutors allege the group plotted to confront and assault Wootton, who had learning difficulties. They claim that Dunne and Lynch then carried out a joint attack on Mr Wootton – punching, kicking and fatally stabbing him in her pantry.
Dunne, of Bedford Road, Bootle, and Lynch, of St Augustine’s Way, Netherton, both deny murder.
All four defendants also deny conspiring to commit assault occasioning actual bodily harm and plotting to pervert the court of justice.
Neil Flewitt QC, prosecuting, told the jury that all four had now given conflicting accounts blaming each other. He said: “It is, however, the prosecution case that at some time before Graham Wootton arrived at St Augustine’s Way, the four defendants agreed to confront and assault him in consequence of the suggestion that he had, in the past, been convicted of sexual offences.
“Also that in the pantry, off the kitchen, Samuel Dunne and Susan Lynch carried out a joint attack on Graham Wootton during the course of which he was punched, kicked and fatally stabbed.”
Mr Wootton, of Haydock, was convicted of offences of sexual assault in 1996 and made the subject of a hospital order.
Mr Flewitt told jurors the background to the attack was that Mr Wootton’s brother Barry had met Hutchins, of Muttocks Rake, Seaforth, on a night out. But after he introduced her to Graham it was clear they were attracted to each other. Barry was so upset he set up a new email address using a fake name, John Kelly, to email Hutchins.
In a series of emails he masqueraded as the brother of a 14-year-old girl abused by Mr Wootton. He told Hutchins: “He’s an evil t***. Do you want to be known as the friend of a sex beast. The evil t*** ruined my sister’s life.”
He then added: “He attacked my sister when she was 14. He was charged with eight other attacks. Your life will never be the same again if you have contact with him.”
Mr Flewitt said Hutchins quickly worked out it was Barry sending the messages. But she maintained contact with both men and on the night of November 13, she spoke to Mr Wootton for one hour and 16 minutes. Shortly after, at about 11.10pm, Mr Wootton arrived at Lynch’s home with alcohol.
Mr Flewitt said: “It is the prosecution case that by 00.39, Samuel Dunne had left the premises and was driving his van away from St Augustine’s Way where, by that time, Graham Wootton was already dead.”
He added that it was not “easy to piece together exactly what had happened” in the house. But that police were not called until 2.24am and by that stage it was too late to revive Mr Wootton. He had died from a 12.5cm wound which cut an artery in his leg. He also had a “slash” wound across his face.
In the wake of his death, Lynch admitted to police: “No-one likes a kiddie fiddler”, but she insisted it was Dunne who was fighting with Wootton. While Dunne, who fled the scene and hid his clothing, admitted punching Wootton, but insisted it must have been Lynch who stabbed him. ..Source.. by Chloe Griffiths
Trial begins into alleged murder of convicted sex offender Graham Wootton in Netherton house
1-21-2011 United Kingdom:
A CONVICTED sex attacker died of stab wounds in a Netherton house after being confronted about his criminal past by his drunken new girlfriend and her pals.
Liverpool Crown Court heard Graham Wootton’s girlfriend Lindsay Hutchins, 23, had become aware of his background after being tipped off by his brother, Barry. On November 13, 2009, the young mum invited him around to her friend Susan Lynch’s Netherton home, where they were drinking with their co-accused Samuel Dunne, 49, and his nephew David Bennett, 36, of Condron Road North, Litherland.
Prosecution solicitor Neil Flewitt said: “It is the prosecution case that at some time before Graham Wootton arrived at St Augustine’s Way, the four defendants agreed to confront and assault him in consequence of the suggestion that he had, in the past, been convicted of sexual offences. Also that in the pantry, off the kitchen, Samuel Dunne and Susan Lynch carried out a joint attack on Graham Wootton during the course of which he was punched, kicked and fatally stabbed.”
Mr Wootton, of Haydock, was convicted of offences of sexual assault in 1996 and made the subject of a hospital order.
Mr Flewitt told jurors Mr Wootton’s brother Barry had met Hutchins, of Muttocks Rake, Netherton, on a night out. But after he introduced her to Graham it was clear they were attracted to each other. Barry was so upset he set up a new email address using a fake name, John Kelly, to email Hutchins. In a series of emails he masqueraded as the brother of a 14-year-old girl abused by Mr Wootton. He told Hutchins: “He’s an evil t***. Do you want to be known as the friend of a sex beast. The evil t*** ruined my sister’s life.”
Mr Flewitt said: “It is the prosecution case that by 00.39, Samuel Dunne had left the premises. By that time, Graham Wootton was already dead.”
He added that it was not “easy to piece together exactly what had happened”, but police were not called until 2.24am.
By that stage it was too late to revive Mr Wootton. He had died from a 12.5cm wound which cut an artery in his leg.
Barry Wootton, who gave evidence from behind a screen, admitted making up details of his brother’s crimes, but said he did it to help him. He flatly denied being jealous despite being asked several times.
He said: “I started getting suspicious of Lindsay. She thought men were only there to give her money.” Mr Steer said: “So this was to scare her away for Graham’s benefit?” Mr Wootton agreed, saying: “For Graham’s benefit”. David Steer QC, representing murder accused Susan Lynch, scorned the idea that Barry Wootton was not jealous: “You were very fond of her. Graham was irritating you and you fought.”
Susan Lynch, 39, of St Augustine’s Way, Netherton, where the murder is alleged to have taken place and Samuel ‘Budgie’ Dunne, 49, of Bedford Road, Bootle, deny murdering Mr Wootton. They, along with Lindsay Hutchins, 23, and David Bennett, 36, of Condron Road North, Litherland, also deny conspiring to commit assault occasioning actual bodily harm and plotting to pervert the course of justice. ..Source.. by Michael Byrne, Crosby Herald
Jail for killers of sex offender Graham Wootton
2-25-2011 United Kingdom:
FOUR people have been jailed for a combined total of 37 years following the brutal killing of a convicted sex offender.
Susan Lynch was handed a life sentence for murder of Haydock man Graham Wootton to death in Netherton, Liverpool in 2009. She will serve 18 years.
Co-accused Samuel Dunne was cleared of murder but convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter and was given nine years.
Their co-accused Lindsey Hutchins and David Bennett were each given five years for conspiracy to assault.
Graham Wootton, 31, died from a stab wound to the top of his leg.
A trial at Liverpool Crown Court heard that at the time of his death, he had been in a relationship with Hutchins, who had previously dated his brother Barry.
The court was told she was informed of Graham’s historic conviction - for committing a sex assault when he was a teenager - in an email sent by Barry from a fake address.
Graham had been invited to the house in Liverpool late on Friday, November 13.
It is believed that the four offenders, who had been drinking, had discussed his background.
Although it remains unclear as to what exactly happened, Graham had been dead for a number of hours before an ambulance was called.
Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Williams said: “Susan Lynch has been found guilty of the murder of Graham Wootton. Samuel Dunne has been found guilty of manslaughter.
“All parties including David Bennett and Lindsey Hutchins have also been found guilty of conspiracy to commit actual bodily harm and perverting the course of justice.
“While today's verdict cannot bring Graham back, we hope that it will bring some comfort to his family.
“We also hope that the verdict today will bring home to these offenders, the enormity of what they have done and the pain and heartache they have caused.
“The court has heard that Graham thought he was going to have a few drinks with friends the night he was killed. He went out that night to enjoy himself he did not deserve to die in this way.
“I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of the officers involved in this complex investigation. I would also like to thank the Crown Prosecution Service and the Prosecution Team for all their support throughout this investigation.
“Ultimately nothing can bring Graham back and his family and friends have been devastated by what happened.
"I hope that today’s result at court will bring them some comfort in the knowledge that justice has been done.” ..Source.. by St HelenStar
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